Kamran Shafi Calls Army’s Indulgence in the Media `Monkey Business’

Monkey business-military set to expand media outreach across country by Kamran Shafi What the devil is going on? Why is there no reaction from the sitting government, and the leaders of the political parties in the opposition including the self-proclaimed future prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan; why none from the various spokespeople who regale [...]

Defending Establishment of Cantonments in Balochistan

The Punjab Forum has said that construction of cantonments should not be abandoned in restive Balochistan province as it will encourage elements destabilising Pakistan. Putting Balochistan cantonment plan on hold will help America, Afghanistan and India to play their dirty game on Pakistani soil, it said. In a statement, the Punjab Forum said that limiting [...]

No Coup in the Offing: So No Martyrdom for the Jiyalas

The rapidly heating stand-off between the PPP government and the Pakistan Army, which threatened to boil over on Jan 11, 2012 as a war of words erupted between PM Gilani and the military, may yet escape the traditional ending. Gilani’s remarks to the Chinese People’s Daily, that the responses of the Army Chief and the [...]

Is the PPP Government on its Way Out?

Why did the PM Gilani had to come out so openly against the Army, saying that conspirators were plotting to bring down his government, giving his most public indication yet that he fears being ousted from power. “I want to make it clear today that conspiracies are being hatched here to pack up the elected [...]

A Critique of the English Speaking Liberal Elite of Pakistan

by S. Akbar Zaidi One of Pakistan`s best-known liberal public intellectuals in a recent article has analysed and detailed the divisions within Pakistan`s Army. He differentiates between the Islamist trend in the army and in the ISI, with what one can only call the non-Islamist trend, rather than any nomenclature which could be used to [...]

Amorous Relations of Our Military Rulers: Shabash

General A.A K Niazi had amorous relations with Ms Saeeda Bukhari of Gulberg Lahore who used to run a brothel house by the name of Sinorita Home. She also worked as a tout for Tiger Niazi for receiving money and getting things done when he was GOC and later Corps Commander at Lahore. She also [...]

Campaign for Civilian Supremacy

In response to the question as to what we can do in these times of despondency, this writer proposes that it’s time we join hands to bring about civilian supremacy. During the same time period as the kidnapping, torture and assassination of Saleem Shahzad, Professor Saba Dastiyari of Balochistan University was gunned down in Quetta. [...]

PML-n’s Policy Towards the Military Criticized

By fahmidariaz@hotmail.com Before we begin  to applaud the so called courage and valour of PM-n for criticizing the army Generals, it will be better if we re-examine their statements and stances. They appear to be criticizing the Generals but on what premise? It is the same old theme of  ”the army and the generals are serving the interests [...]

Army is Indispensable to Pakistan’s Survival, Despite its Interference in the Polity

The United States has long complained thatPakistan’s military and intelligence services are playing a double game when it comes to terrorism and extremism: publicly promising cooperation-and indeed delivering some-while privately supportingAmerica’s enemies. They point toPakistan’s apparent reluctance to take on groups like the Haqqaani network, a Taliban affiliate that launches attacks on American soldiers inAfghanistan, [...]

Pakistanis Cannot Do Anything Except Watch Helplessly the Human Rights Violations

Saleem Shahzad was abducted on May 29, and his body was discovered on May 31. This is one more of the mysterious abductions and extrajudicial killings that have been taking place inPakistanon a regular basis. This extrajudicial killing after disappearance is just one of many hundreds that have taken place in the past years and [...]